The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-09-24
ALASKA AuRORAS.
A MarvelousIy Beautifui Arch OF Kaieido
scouIc LIGHT.

A MarvelousIy Beautiful Arch OF Kaleido
scopic Light.
Lieutenant Ray, in his report to the
Government on the international polar
expedition to Point Barrow, Alaska,
says: Every clear night the sky was
illuminated by the most beautiful dis
plays of aurora 1t has ever been my
fortune to witness. They always COM
menced in the northeast and northwest,
and seemed to spring from dark, low
bank of clouds. The lights were never
stationary for single second, neither
did they ever take the form of bows or
arches, so often seen In other latitudcs,
but great curtains of light, flashing
with all the prismatic colors, seemed to
be drawn across the heavens, ever
rising and changing, and often culmi-
mating in n corona at the zenith, and
falling like a shower of meteoric fire.
AS the winter advanced these displays
were more brilliant and were always
OF character that deiies description,
either by pen or pencil, as they were
never for two seconds alike. They
were unaccompanied by any sound, so
far as we were able to observe, and the
deathly stiffness that always prevails in
this region when the sea is closed gavo
us an excellent opportunity to detect
any sound had there been any,"
Lieutenant Ray thus more specifically
describes one of these auroras-one of
the most magnificent displays that he
observed, and which occurred December
&. 1881:
"Thc first appearance was in the
south and southeast, and for several
hours nothing appeared but few pale
arches and bands, which had no re-
markable features worthy of notice ex-
cept the rapidity with which they
changed their position and character.
They appeared, faded and reappeared
in various parts of the sky so quickly,
that it was very difficult to localize
them. At 2:40 a. m. narrow, greening-
yellow arch. with beautiful rosy fringe,
developed in the south-southeast, and in
few minutes extended through Taurus,
Cassiopea and Cygnus down to the
north, and for about ten minutes dis
played some extremely beautiful tints,
especially along its northern half. 1t
seemed to be composed of an infinite
number of short rays in condition of
intense vibration, the motion being prin-
cipally in the direction of it's length,
while flashes of the most vivid coloring
beamed out in the most bewildering
variety. AT the same time numerous
rays and patches of quivering light ap:
peared in various parts of the sky in
quick succession, dancing and gryating
to and fro, swift us the lightning flash.
While the northern half of the arch re-
manned thus brilliant the southern half
faded away.
"a few minutes afterward patch of
rosy. greenish light appeared in the
middle of Orion. and in q minute or
two developed into numerous sheaves
of rays with the greatest variety and
intensity of motion, and displaying the
most brilliant color as they rose and
converged to Il point close to the star
Algol. forming an imperfect but most
brilliant corona. which swayed and
swirled and eddied around our zenith
with q Kaleidoscope magnilicence ut
terly indescribable. The changes of tint,
aspect and position were so rapid and
numerous that the eye strove to follow
their bewildering confusion in vain.
Their general motion was to the north,
though brilliant curtain was Mt the
same time moving toward the zenith
from the north. The brilliancy of the
moon seemed to have little effect on the
intensity of the colors' which appeared.
The colors were very numerous. Orange,
yellow, rose, ruby, red, peach blossom,
emerald green and numerous interme-
diate tints changed and interchanged
in beautiful confusion. The whole
phenomenon of waving wreaths, flick
ering flames, rays, curtains. fringes,
bands and flashing colors, the strange
confusion of light and motion. pre-
sentcd u picture of which words can
convey a very poor idea. The whole
display lasted about thirty minutes.
There was also intense magnetic dis
turbance during this time, the needles
being almost unmanageable. The
peculiarity of this aurora was its low
ness in the atmosphere, several patches
Of cloud, apparently not very elevated,
appearing far above it. 1t did not en-
tirely disappear until twelve, midday.
N. D. IGmes-Democrat.